Abstract:

Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in healthy children reflect endogenous growth hormone (GH) levels, and their daily variations are very low. This study investigated the relationship between growth response and serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels before and on the first year of treatment in children with GH deficiency (GHD) started on GH therapy. The records of 44 patients diagnosed with GHD, under follow-up at the Adıyaman Education and Research Hospital Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic, and receiving GH therapy for at least one year were examined retrospectively. Patients’ ages, pubertal development stages, peak GH-responses to GH stimulation tests and height standard deviation scores (SDS) measured before and at the first year of treatment, and IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were recorded. Girls represented 27 (61.4%) of the cases in the study and boys 17 (3.6%), with ages ranging between 0.5 and 16.6 years (mean=11.5±3.3). Partial GHD was present in 33 patients (75%) and complete GHD in 11 (25%). Basal height SDS, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 values were compared with those after one year of treatment. Patients with basal IGF-1 levels < -2 SDS exhibited significantly higher growth responses (p < .05). All three parameters’ mean values were significantly higher after one year compared to baseline. Δ IGF-1 and Δ IGFBP-3 values investigated in the fırst year of treatment together with basal IGF-1 levels can be a useful diagnostic tool in showing growth response in children with GHD started on GH therapy.

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